Ramsey: Arsenal will last the title pace

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By Chris Davie

Manchester United star Wayne Rooney suggested Arsene Wenger's men may begin to falter in February, but the Gunners midfielder believes his team-mates can go the distance

Aaron Ramsey insists Arsenal have the ability to maintain a Premier League title challenge this season.

On Wednesday, Wayne Rooney claimed Arsene Wenger’s side have faded in their recent attempts to compete alongside Manchester United.

"We'll have to wait and see where they are in March," the striker said. "We've seen before that they've been in the top two until February and March and then they've faded off, so it's down to them to try to stay there.”

But Ramsey believes Arsenal’s record in the second half of the season proves the club have the ability to keep pace with their fellow title challengers.

“I think the boss said the other day that, from January, we’re the team in the league who have picked up the most points,” Ramsey told reporters.

“I don’t think our form has been that bad after Christmas. In the last few seasons, we’ve had to dig in and get a load of points to get fourth place. We’ve managed to do that.

“Our biggest problem over the last few seasons has been starting off well. But we’ve managed to do that this season.

“If we get ourselves into a strong position then our ability to get as many points as we can in the run-in has been second to none.

“We had a fantastic run-in to last season and after the disappointment of the opening game of the season we managed to build on that and keep it going.

“If we can do that now and keep it going up until Christmas then we know that we have the ability to compete. So far we’ve shown we’ve got what it takes.”

Arsenal, who are five points clear at the top of the Premier League, travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Sunday and Ramsey has urged his team-mates to prove their credentials against David Moyes’ men.

“We’ve got a massive game now at Manchester United and in the past few seasons we’ve struggled to go there and get a good result so hopefully we’ll feel a lot more confident and this will be the time when we do manage to do that,” he said.